Settlers injure 6 Israeli soldiers over structures demolition

JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli settlers injured six Israeli border police guards and destroyed an Israeli military post in clashes over the demolition of illegal structures on Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed in a statement.

Hundreds of settlers from Yitzhar clashed with the border police guards who entered their settlement overnight to demolish four structures and confiscate one. They threw rocks, burned tires and blocked the streets, the Ynet news website reported.

Two border guards required hospitalization following the clashes, all six border police guards have suffered minor injuries.

The military post was used by reserve soldiers to protect the inhabitants of the settlement from militant attacks. The IDF said in an official statement that it sees any damage to its security forces, who are doing their job and enforcing the law, as a grave incident.

According to the Ynet news, the settlers called the demolition by the IDF a "price tag" attack, in retaliation to an attack on Sunday which targeted an IDF commander.

On Sunday, vandals in the settlement slashed the tires of IDF Colonel Yoav Yarom while the local commander was visiting the settlement. This is the second time his car's tires had been slashed.

In addition, settlers hurled stones at Israeli military vehicles and slashed their tires in a string of local attacks in recent days.

Following the incident on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will "act with zero tolerance against whoever harms IDF soldiers and their commanders. The assailants will pay for their criminal acts."

Police nabbed a minor in Jerusalem on Monday who was suspected of taking part in the incident of Sunday.

There have been several altercations in the past between the Israeli security forces and the settlers of the settlement located near Nablus in the West Bank.